Wooster Memorial Park: A Case Study

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WOOSTER — The Friends of Wooster Memorial Park were successful in securing state grant dollars to purchase nearly 50 acres a few years ago, and now they are hopeful to land some more to construct a handicapped-accessible trail with overlooks and boardwalks on the property. Catherine Herms, president of the group, said the Kenwood Acres portion of the park was formerly farmland and would make a nice site for trails that area that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Much of the terrain in Wooster Memorial Park is steep and not suitable for ADA-accessible trails. Kenwood Acres includes 28 acres of gently sloping farmland, 20 acres of forest and forested ravines and one acre old homestead, perfect for ADA access. Plans call for three …show more content…

Those buildings were removed with Moving Ohio Forward Funding in 2014. The plan had been to allow the agricultural land to return to its natural habitat. However, because the land was already disturbed, creating the ADA-accessible trails made sense. Earthen trails will connect Wooster Memorial Park with Kenwood Acres. Commissioner Ann Obrecht said the ADA-accessible trails at Barnes Preserve is used all the time. Herms said she has been out there several times, and it served as the inspiration to establish similar trails at Wooster Memorial Park. The project has already received public input through an intergovernmental review process, Obrecht said. The Friends of Wooster Memorial Park submitted the project for review to the Wayne County Planning Commission in 2015, which was similar in nature to a review in 2013 to purchase the land with Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation funds. A change in state law now permits the group to apply for funding to construct the trail. Previously, the grant money could only be used for land acquisition. Because the ADA-accessible trails will be paved, Herms said a maintenance fund will be established. She is hopeful it will be 10-15 years before the trails will need serious

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